Friday, June 15, 2012

Buy Black!

One of the main reasons (besides that the products work for my hair) I use Carol's Daughter, Nubian Heritage, and SheaMoisture products is because they are made and designed by black folks. This is my way of supporting black businesses and counteracting the beauty supply industry which we all know has been taken over mostly by Asians. It's a known fact that there is a great deal of money to be made in the black hair care industry. Black women buy hair products 10 to 1. If you're like me, going natural did not stop you from buying hair products. I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy other products but if you would like to support black businesses as well, then I've compiled this list for you.

Carol's Daughter
Founder: Lisa Price
Description/Background: Lisa Price is literally Carol's daughter. The business started 18 years ago in her kitchen. The company does well when it comes to listening to their customers and catering to their wants and needs. Lisa Price makes hair, skin, and body products with natural ingredients. She has hair products for natural and relaxed hair. Lisa Price, herself, has transitioned three times and has recently started transitioningmovement.com which is an online resource jam packed with useful tutorials for those who are transitioning.

Products can be purchased via carolsdaughter.com, Sephora, Amazon, or at select hair salons.

Earl Bernard, Nyema Tubman, and Richelieu Dennis

SheaMoisture/Nubian Heritage
Founder: Richelieu Dennis

Description/Background: Yes, the same people who make SheaMoisture products also make Nubian Heritage products. Richelieu Dennis started on the streets of Sierra Leone helping his grandmother Sofi Tucker make and sell butters and soaps. Fleeing from a civil war in Liberia, Richard Dennis and Nyema Tubman immigrated to the United States. Richard and Nyema decided to use what Richard had been taught by his grandmother to make a living for themselves. In 1992, they began selling Shea butter and soaps on the streets of Harlem. Now, SheaMoisture and Nubian Heritage are a line of quality, organic hair and skin care products for all ethnicities.

You an purchase SheaMoisture/Nubian Heritage products at Target, Walgreens, and vitaminshoppe.com

Kinky Curly
Founder: Shelley Davis
Description/Background: On a trip back to St. Vincent(which is where she is from), Shelley Davis lost all of her hair care products. This forced her to make her own products using herbs and aloe that she found in a friend's yard. When she arrived back to states, she received so many compliments on her hair that she decided to remake it and start selling it. What you probably didn't know is that a portion of Kinky Curly's sales goes to Charity Water. Charity Water builds wells in underdeveloped countries.www.mycharitywater.org/kinkycurly

You can purchase Kinky Curly products at Target, Whole Foods, and on Amazon.

Taliah WaajidFounder: Taliah Waajid
Description/Background: Taliah Waajid is a licensed cosmetologist, natural hair care specialist, and natural hair educator with over 25 years of hair care experience. Taliah Waajid opened her first hair salon in 1988. While advising clients with her hair care wisdom and products, her popularity spread through word of mouth. She has created products for the needs of adults' and children's chemically-free curly hair.

You can purchase Taliah Waajid's products at Walgreens, your local beauty supply store, and through Amazon.

Design Essentials is another one with founder Cornell McBride, Sr but I have never purchased any of their products(but hope to soon!).

This blog post is only meant to educate and give a face to the products that we're using. As a people, we need to understand that we have economic power and pay attention to where our money is going. For example, a lot of the companies that we use on a daily basis funded the group that created the law that protected George Zimmerman when he shot Trayvon Martin(look it up). Yeah, it runs deep. So, if I've left anyone out, feel free to let me know and I will add them to the list.